In a remote small cottage lived a family of three. In days past, like most families, they would rejoice at the growth of their son Raiden Hayes. Though just a baby, not once had the child cried, and within a few months of birth could already crawl. His eyes always had a playful glint, seemingly already well ahead in his plans to melt his parent’s hearts as he continued to surprise them. However, on this day the two parents could not show how proud they were of their son with their smiles, instead they were restless. The Father, Ning Hayes, a tall man from the Savage Plains with short black messy hair. He had a muscular yet lean body and wore a red robe with a golden design of wings on its back. Currently he was chanting words that made little Raiden curious. The child stretched his arms as if to catch the sparkling red lights the swirled around his father. As sweat trickled down Ning’s face, with the occasional small amount of blood coming from his coughing, the mother, Linda Hayes, was currently donning silver armor, hiding her beautiful figure. She had long dark blue hair, with gleaming light blue eyes which would make the heavens jealous of the clearness. She was tall for her lineage, roughly 1.75 meters, though still shorter than her husband. Her face, which once only showed smiles and cheerful giggles, was now adorned with a frown and worry filled eyes. The sound of the wind mixed with the unintelligible gurgles of the small child as he failed to understand what was currently transpiring before his eyes. It was just another day in the small cottage located in the depths of the forest. The mountain that lay in their yard was the same as any other day of the year. The small lake that connected to the river that had been prepped for this very day was also calm and serene. Yet the atmosphere for the little family was dark and grim. Today would not be just any other day for them. Today would be a day of tragedy and sorrow. A day that would end with the sound of an infant’s cry and the crackling of flames. It would be the day an entire lineage would spell their doom. It would be the day where the strings of fate would give rise to a legend.

There’s not enough time! Too much to do, and they're approaching quickly. I thought we had another year before they noticed we were gone...

I focused my eyes on Raiden and my mind wandered again.

Oh my son. How I had hoped it would not come to this. If my family wasn't so stubborn and power hungry we could have given you the life you deserved.

Suddenly I heard Ning cough violently. Only now did I noticed how pale he looked.

"Ning! You have to rest, overusing mana will lead you to your death!"

"It doesn't matter as long as I can buy my son more time. I won't let those senile old men turn him into their personal toy just so that they can have more power in the empire!"

He seemed like he would scream his intentions if he could, but enchanting Raiden’s basket and setting up magical defenses to our cottage was beginning to take its toll. His knees looked like they would give in at any moment, he was beginning to use his life force to supplement the mana for his spells. My eyes began to tear up.

What did we do to deserve this? This should be our happiest days! Yet now our son...

My thoughts were interrupted by a sudden explosion of in the distance. That was the first checkpoint. If they reached it, it means we don't have too much time left.

I looked towards Ning as he said, "Go, there’s not much time, the basket will be safe even if the river gets rough. The enchantments will make sure it doesn't break. This way he should reach my brother before they can finish here."

His expression dark and serious. We knew that we would not make it out. But that didn't mean Raiden couldn’t make it. I picked him up, tears rolling down my face, and placed him in his basket. I could see his small little hands reach out to grab my hair. Going out I reluctantly approached the river with a heavy heart. The flow of the water was slow and serene. My hands trembled as I placed the basket in the water I began chanting.

"Oh spirits of water lend me a hand, loan me your strength and hear my command, though selfish please hear my plea, and give me your blessing to help this child flee."

The tears flowed down my cheeks as my incantation finished, soon I felt some of my strength leave me. Looking at the basket that held my child rush through the river in unnatural speeds I felt my heart clench. I may not make it past this day, but no one will stop me from making sure my son will.

My eyes stirred as the light from the window hit my face. The normally pleasant wind felt like a cold knife grazing my skin. I couldn’t feel anything, my strength failed me, my body looked more like a toothpick than human.

I blacked out huh. All those years of effort come down to this... Whoever they sent over to chase us is going to have one hell of a surprise.

A small chuckle escaped me, my throat burned as I began to cough more blood. An inferno was brewing in my chest as I began to levitate in the air, held gently by my precious angel. Linda had picked me up and sat me on a chair.

"Didn't even know you were back." I muttered.

"You were out for a little while. When you started coughing... I thought you were dead already."

I could see the tears forming in her eyes. Extending my hand to caress her cheek.

"I won't leave ahead of you. Someone has to keep your brawns for brains in line to make our plan work."

She pouted a little before she giggled. As my wife pulled me into her embrace I could feel a small smile form on my face. Fortunately my wife controlled her strength or else with the current state of my body it would snap like a twig. She let me go and handed me a small bottle. As the light blue liquid filled my mouth, small amounts of vigor and strength began to make their way through my body. The effects of mana exhaustion wouldn’t disappear immediately even if I recovered my entire mana pool.

It should take at least a week or two to get better. But by then… My thoughts wondered for a while until I snapped myself back. “Thanks. I’ll rest for a while. The preparations have been made. All that’s left is to buy Raiden and Yian enough time to escape.”

My wife eyes turned serious, those same eyes that could bewitch any man could also turn into a storming blizzard should anyone piss her off.

“Okay, when they arrive I’ll buy you some time. Maybe I should go on ahead and set up an ambush, it won’t be too far down the road but it should catch them off guard and that way you won’t have to deal with all of them here.”

Her voice trailed off into a whisper when she started to mention the ambush. We had discussed this, yet I could never win an argument with her. Even though I wished we could fall together I would have to settle with just remembering her smile before she left.

“Even though we agreed we would face them here… I guess I could never fix you stubborn head even at the end. I just hope Raiden didn’t inherent that part of you.” I smiled bitterly as I saw her face flare up with anger for an instant. Before she could utter anything I pulled her close. “Just…” I hesitated not knowing what to say or do. This was not the life I promised her, it was not the way she deserved to end her life. She deserved so much better, so much more… “Give them hell honey. Show those old geezers they can’t take what they want without us biting back.”

I could feel myself choking, tears streaming down my face. Suddenly Linda broke away from my embrace and I could see those strong reliant eyes. Those eyes that could be warm or cold. She smiled one last time for me and gripped my hands a little tighter for a short while. She abruptly stood up then turning around she began walking out the cabin.

“Remember I’ll be waiting for you after this. Don’t keep me waiting unless you have too.”

Her figure suddenly disappeared. How she could be so nimble with that heavy armor I would never know.

I would never let you wait for me, Yian can take care of Raiden and even if I survived this I would be a cripple and a burden.

I sat down and began to meditate to try and alleviate the burden of my mana exhaustion.

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Somewhere in the outskirts of the Holy Dragon Empire there was a lonely mountain surrounded by a great forest. Not too far from a small unknown cabin there was an army of men making their way across the forest. The citizens of the Empire had been told that there was a dangerous beast in the heart of the forest and that the Emperor himself had ordered his third son, Devin, to lead an army of 10,000 men to ensure the elimination of the beast and any other dangers they may find in the forest. The soldiers did not think twice when given the order to travel to the remote mountain, yet some of the more experienced soldiers knew this was no beast they were sent out to slay. The entirety of the Empires lands had been cleared of dangerous beast since their founding, more than 10 millennia ago, or that’s what was stated in the history books of the empire. There were only regular animals that could be hunted by the denizens of the empire in the present age. Thus many of the more seasoned soldiers knew that they were on their way to subdue or decimate a treacherous enemy of their empire.

At the head of this army was a single horseman, who wore a golden armor that was decorated with what seemed like a rainbow. The jewels encrusted on his armor where of all sizes and colors. Many knew this man to be nothing but an arrogant noble, but those who knew him better were aware that he had more than enough strength to back up his attitude.

“What could have my honorable father so worried that he has to send me, The Great Devin 2nd General of the Windstorm Army, to this backwater dunghill? He could have sent Second brother to take care of this matter. All he does is lay about in his gardens. He would surely know his way around this unforsaken mud fest.”

As the soldiers listened to their commanding officer’s millionth complaint, suddenly an explosion was heard in the distance. Could the scouting party encountered the beasts? Many of the soldier’s minds ran amok. As they closed the distance all they could find was a giant crater.

Devin rode his horse in front of the soldiers and roared “Tighten your formations. We follow the road down to the heart of the forest. Whatever the Emperor wants us to kill has shown its hostility to our forces. Stay on high alert and be ready for anything!”

The soldiers followed their orders and resumed their march towards wherever their enemy was hidden.

UGHHHHHH. Why did I have to get picked for this mission? I know I asked the captain for a promotion but at least as a guard the job was easy. The entire scouting party was probably blown up in that blast. That was 3000 men. 3000! Whatever were going to fight is not anything I want to face. Stupid big, mouthed idiot, my ass this is a beast from the mountains. What are we fighting? Dragons? Nothing but those fairy tales could have caused an explosion like that.

Abruptly I noticed a shadow fall in the middle of the ranks a few meters in front of me. The distance was covered by at least a few hundred men. Rapidly before I realized what was going on a giant icicle sprung beside me impaling the soldier next to me.

OH SHIT IT GOT JEFF.

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Soldiers that began to notice what was going on tried to get some semblance of order and tried to subdue their attacker. A blur could be seen slashing its way past hundreds of men and women. A bloody trail seemed to follow its every move. That is until 6 earthen walls surrounded it and a roof of earth was placed on top making a hexagonal prison.

"Surround the dome, prepare your spells and weapons!" Devin yelled.

Unexpectedly the colossal slabs of earth and stone seemed to emit a frozen mist, and with what seemed to have been an impregnable prison suddenly shattered into bits and pieces. What stood at its center was a tall armored woman whose face could only be described as an angered goddess with flaring blue eyes. No man that surrounded this angered death god could help but sigh in praise, some could not even help but lower their weapons ever so slightly, thinking if only they could have seen this goddess smile once in their lives they would die happily. As soon as the visage had appeared it suddenly vanished once more. Before anyone figured what happened the sound of clanging swords reverberated in the air. Everyone turned around to see their commanding officer Devin holding his sword in a contest of strength against the mysterious goddess. Yet to the surprise of everyone present, Devin, who was boasted by the Emperor himself to be the second strongest of his sons, still lost and fell off his horse. As the prince fell he saw his opponent’s mouth faintly move. As he fell on the floor he began rolling crudely to the side. As ice spikes began growing spontaneously from the ground, Devin was grazed on the side of his arm, whilst in a 500 meter radius all the soldiers weren't able to react and were all skewered in various parts of their bodies yet all were fatal. The tension in the air had thickened almost as much as the red mist that hung in the air. Every breath had a tinge of metallic flavor to it, the temperature seemed to drop ever so faintly. Anger surged through the minds of every combatant present, yet none dared move. It was but moments ago that they had a full army of 10,000 warriors and mages. Yet now in the span of a short few breaths more than half their numbers hand dwindled. Albeit 3000 of them had died in the explosion, but that still left approximately 2000 of their army that had fallen before this woman!

"Who are you to dare harm the Holy Dragons Emperor's troops? Explain yourself woman!"

Devin tried to diffuse the situation. Knowing full well that he had to buy time for his elite group that were hidden within the troops to begin preparing their spells to lock down this threat. He did not know why his father wanted this woman and her family dead, but he could tell that the enmity was already there and nothing would fix whatever wrongs or disputes existed between his family and the one of this armored beauty.

Linda ignored the man’s attempts at a peaceful resolution. She knew that the Emperor wouldn’t have mentioned who the targets were, anything that would give an edge to the outer branches of the family was squashed with utmost urgency. There was no way his son would know who she was. For all that the main royal family held its pride as the strongest, they never paid attention anyone in the other branches. Had this been a normal encounter she could have fought for hours if need be. But sadly, she was beginning to run out of mana, and there were no doubt assassins closing in on the cabin on their own, she needed to draw as much attention here, and there was only one way to do that. Though she could fight purely on physical prowess it would not allow her to decimate many of her family’s enemies. Thus she had opted to do as much damage while they were unaware of her existence and now was time to release the restraints of her blood. Thoughts of her son floated in her mind as she still held a semblance of sanity. Under the many soldiers fearful gaze the mysterious armored god of death took out a dark red vial of unknown liquid. Recognition flashed through Devin’s face seeing this familiar scene he began to panic.

“STOP HER. DON'T LET HER DRINK THAT VIAL!" His eyes bulging and his entire being rocketed towards what he knew would bring an enormous casualties to his army. "PREPARE THE CRYSTAL DRAGON FORMATION!"

But it was already too late, by the time he had reached Linda, the vial had already been emptied and as he approached her he suddenly felt like a massive hammer smashed against his chest. By the time the regular soldiers realized what was going on, Devin was blown away striking a few fighters who were in the way to where he was hurling towards. Jewels and chunks of gold scraped from the armor decorated the ground. As their eyes landed on what used to be the most beautiful woman they had ever seen, now all that stood in her place was a crystal being with reptilian features and a long tail that was retreating as it had just struck their strongest fighter. It raised its head high and roared towards the skies. A roar so bestial, a roar brimming with power and ancient regal presence. The once clear skies began to darken and lightning descended on its surroundings.

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I was suddenly awakened from meditation from a loud roar. To most this roar would sound like those of a beast. But I knew better, it contained the sadness and grief of a mother, of my wife! All those cranky geezers from the Holy Dragon Clan thought that the dragon blood would only turn someone with the dragon’s lineage into a crazy mana crystal monstrosity. But Linda and I had learned that it did so much more. The dragon blood would awaken their blood, essentially removing the limiter that their human body was not built to sustain. Their mana absorption would increase to unearthly proportions, so much that the bodies subjected to it could not sustain it and became mana crystals without a consciousness to guide them. But a shred of intent still remained. In this case Linda’s sorrow as a mother could be felt. My anger and sadness intertwined, one would soar the other would fall and vice versa. That was until I heard the rustling of the bushes. Then my eyes became bloodshot as my fury rose to completely new heights. Slowly walking out the cabin that should have housed our family until we could escape to my homeland. As I stepped out into the light I could see maybe a thousand men and women, all tattered and bruised. I couldn't know how many there were before Linda had given these clowns hell. When these injured buffoons set their eyes on me there was a trace of confusion in their eyes. I probably didn't fit the image of threatening or even mildly terrifying. I was still as thin as a stick from having to prepare for the big finale. How could I not entertain these guests, along with those hiding in the outskirts of the forest whom had arrived not lot ago. No doubt they could feel the mana thrumming through the air, if their mission was to retrieve Raiden, then they couldn’t risk setting off my big surprise. A foolish looking man stepped up, his golden armor dented and battered.

"Hand over the boy and we will leave. Don't give me more trouble than what your foolishness has already caused. It has cost us both enough."

I could see his left arm was missing. Laughter rose from my throat. An almost maniacal laugh burned my throat, ignoring the pain which even the slightest movement would give me. Something seemed to snap inside of me all the while my laughter resounded throughout the small opening in which we were located at.

"You speak as if what we both lost have equal value. You think… no you truly are convinced that your arm and a few lives are comparable to my wife’s life and her lost future! HAH! Don’t make me laugh, you may be the emperor’s son, and I may only be but an outsider here married to a small branch of your Holy Dragon Clan. But you best remember whelp, that before all that I am Ning Hayes, the Flame general of the South! The very one who stopped your oh so ‘honorable’ fathers ambition on the Savage Plains. Even if my limbs are torn, my very body shattered, I will die here before you can even so much as take a step towards that cabin. Let the heavens be my witness that even though I will die today, my son will bring vengeance to your family with the help of his Grandfather. I will stake my life here so that neither you nor your elders may lay a hand on my son. You know very well what your father and his 'advisers' would do to my son should they get their hands on him. I'll be dammed before I let any one of you leave here alive."

Before any could utter a remark. My body began to glow, runes soared and flew around my body as the last of my mana and strength left me. I could see the shine that was being projected from the object above my head. The horrified faces of those in front of me brought nothing but smiles to my face. But the happiness was short lived as the pain took over my senses. My knees buckled under the pressure and agony. I could barely lift myself to see the raging flames that came crashing on the last group of men who threatened my son’s life. The darkness overtook my sight, it was not much different from before. After knowing my wife and I would not live past today the world had seemed a little duller. The vibrant colors of the past, which accompanied the memories of my early years with her, and my son's first year of growth, seemed a little brighter as they flashed through my mind. Suddenly my eyes opened and I could hear a few slow steps making their way to me, seems like a few survived. Humph, at least the fireworks weren't in vain. My head was suddenly lifted forcing me to look at the face of a man that seemed to have gone through hell itself. His anger was clearly visible as he raised his sword. I was able to mumble.

“You might not want to do that."

“Or what!"

"You'll have a bad time I guess?" I mustered my last smile and chuckle at the expense of my last little annoyance onto his retched lineage.

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As Devin’s sword fell on the tattered man’s neck he barely noticed the smirk on the dead man’s face. But as soon as the head had been separated from the neck a rumble could be heard from his surroundings. Runes could be seen on the man glowing along with a similar set that were placed in a giant circle surrounding the opening where the cabin was located.

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At the far distance lay a small town, located close enough to see the lone mountain that had adorned their visage since their great-grandfathers had founded their tiny village. But on this day, not long before the sun would set, a big cloud of smoke could be seen. As the villagers gathered to watch and speculate what this enigmatic phenomena was a giant explosion, the likes of which one could not help but compare it to a single resounding thunderbolt, reverberated across the tiny settlement. By the time the villagers had let go of their ears that had helped them protect themselves from the sound, the lonely mountain was no more.